Fergie admits Rooney struggling to cope with public scrutiny

Alex Ferguson has admitted that Wayne Rooney is struggling to cope with the intense public scrutiny that he has been subjected to over recent weeks, but claims that the England striker's indifferent performances on the pitch this season have not been as a result of any accompanying loss of confidence.

Alex Ferguson has admitted that Wayne Rooney is struggling to cope with the intense public scrutiny that he has been subjected to over recent weeks, but claims that the England striker's indifferent performances on the pitch this season have not been as a result of any accompanying loss of confidence.

Ferguson has consistently refused to answer questions about the allegations surrounding Rooney's private life, but did talk around the topic in an interview with 'Gazetta dello Sport', in which he asserted that the 24-year-old has to finally understand the attention that will always accompany him away from the game.

Ferguson left him out of the United side that played Everton at Goodison Park in the week after the claims of him sleeping with a prostitute were published by the 'News of the World', saying he did not want to "subject him to all that nonsense". But he has now said that Rooney must ensure he is free of off-field issues in order to concentrate on his football.